Moroccan government spokesperson Mostafa Baitas said Thursday that the two French journalists who were deported Wednesday had entered Morocco for tourism purposes without requesting permission or declaring their status as journalists.
Speaking after a weekly government session, Baitas said journalist Quentin Müller and freelance photographer Thérèse Di Campo were expelled based on this violation of accreditation requirements, in accordance with Moroccan law.
Müller, who works for the French weekly Marianne had said his on-site his investigation “focused on the economic, social and libertarian violence of this Moroccan regime, driven by the all-powerful power of the king, his court and his ultra-repressive security services.”
Baitas said the government authorized over 310 foreign journalists, including 78 French correspondents to covered the earthquake events in a transparent and free manner. While acknowledging that some of the coverage may have lacked objectivity, he reiterated that no journalist faced any form of pressure during their reporting in Morocco.
On another note, the government spokesperson explained that efforts are currently focused on conducting a comprehensive census of the affected individuals and families. Once data for all cases are gathered, the disbursement of subsidies, as instructed by the emergency program under royal guidance, will commence.
He also confirmed that the management of the effects of the Al Haouz earthquake, which occurred on September 8th, will be incorporated into the 2024 Finance Law. He emphasized that this upcoming finance bill, expected to be unveiled soon, plays a pivotal role in shaping annual financial strategies, and the government will be attentive to the earthquake’s consequences and reconstruction efforts through this legislation.
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